Dennis Cholowski is enjoying his rookie season with the Detroit Red Wings this Christmas, but 15 years ago he was all about playing with his beloved Game Boy Advance.(Photo: Tom Szczerbowski, USA TODAY Sport)

The Detroit Red Wings began a holiday break Monday, as the NHL shuts down for three days around Christmas — there are no games, and not even a practice is allowed again until Thursday. It’s an opportunity to relax, refresh — and reflect. Three Wings shared their favorite memories of Christmases past — like gatherings, or gifts that still elicit a smile.

“I got a Game Boy Advance when I was 4 or 5 years old,” rookie defenseman Dennis Cholowski said. “Those were big back then and I wanted one for the longest time, ever since I could remember. I got it for Christmas and I was the happiest person in the world for the next couple weeks. I played nonstop.

“It might still be my favorite thing. I still have it.”

Playing a video game is also a happy memory for Luke Witkowski, but because of how many people it involved.

“I was maybe 7 or 8 years old, and there were 15 of us, all relatives, and the whole family was playing Die Hard on PlayStation,” Witkowski said. “It came with a gun. Everybody had a great time — my uncles, aunts, cousins, we all took turns playing and watching each other play.”

Martin Frk has a favorite memory that is more recent: When his girlfriend, Kennedy, picked out a French bulldog puppy.

“That was a special moment,” Frk said. “It was my second year in pro. We got him two weeks before Christmas. I was in Toledo, so Kennedy went and picked him up — she picked the color and everything. I saw him first time the week after she got him. She came down to Toledo, and that’s when I saw him the first time. He was tiny. He was not too much trouble — puppies like to see everything, but he was a good dog right away. He was more easy than our second dog.”

Winston is the gift that keeps on giving.

“Every time I nap, he comes with me,” Frk said. “He keeps me company and makes me comfortable. Dogs, they like to be next to you, and he definitely makes me happy a lot.”